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Hm Rebekah Send a noteboard - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM
I found it bizarre that the Pilate chapers were so good but much of the rest of the book felt like a bad translation. What was up with that? I wonder how it comes off in Russian.


I'm possibly making stuff up, but I think Tim thought that too.

I didn't.

The two bits were obviously meant to feel different - one being the story written by one of the characters in the other story.

The Pilate story is very lucid, easy to follow, and understandable. It's a retelling of a very famous story, but this time from the "bad guy's" perspective. We know what's coming with the main action, so we can focus on the character instead. (At least, that's what I thought.)

The other story is completely different. It's madcap, it's anarchic, it's fantastical and bizarre, and so far out of the realm of normal life that it's hard to follow. I think that came across perfectly in the translation I read. It wasn't meant to feel smooth and accessible.

So. It mightn't be the translation? Or it might be a combination of the two things?
*MySmiley*

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
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The Joint Book Club: Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:36:47 AM 1624 Views
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Yeah. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:46:33 PM 994 Views
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There wasn't much character-building, was there? Tim - 23/07/2010 11:26:44 PM 1130 Views
Too much crazy. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:59:46 AM 1095 Views
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Ah. Tim - 26/07/2010 08:54:30 AM 991 Views
Interesting, I never gave that option a thought. Michael - 29/07/2010 02:54:17 PM 1118 Views
Yeah. I couldn't think of one that he would fit. Rebekah - 29/07/2010 10:35:35 PM 1008 Views
See, that seemed obvious to me. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:55:02 AM 1037 Views
Oh, so that was them making up a story to tell anyone else if needed? *NM* Tim - 28/07/2010 08:29:10 AM 541 Views
Mm, not just that. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:45:58 PM 1082 Views
That's how I read it, also. Michael - 29/07/2010 09:53:17 AM 1074 Views
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You are right. He didn't wield the metal weapon. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:19:57 PM 1109 Views
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may be... aragornital - 26/07/2010 03:50:48 PM 949 Views
Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Not a bad idea. *NM* Tim - 26/07/2010 04:11:43 PM 540 Views
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The story of the Passion is strikingly intense. Ghavrel - 20/07/2010 07:27:26 AM 1085 Views
It is. They are my favourite bits. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:11:33 PM 971 Views
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Was wondering about that. *NM* Jacob - 20/07/2010 05:22:27 PM 525 Views
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That's neat. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:48:53 PM 1003 Views
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I suspect I'm missing a hell of a lot. Tim - 23/07/2010 10:45:35 PM 1169 Views
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I see that title and I think of taking up smoking... Larry - 18/07/2010 09:43:38 PM 885 Views
My thoughts Tom - 20/07/2010 04:50:06 AM 1188 Views
Does this story translate well? Jacob - 20/07/2010 06:27:50 PM 993 Views
I honestly have no clue. Tom - 20/07/2010 07:31:03 PM 1105 Views
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There is a Russian author who believes Margarita was Gorky's girlfriend. Tom - 22/07/2010 03:15:13 AM 1069 Views
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Aha. There's the question I was going to ask: Rebekah - 31/07/2010 10:32:17 PM 890 Views
To the devil with this. I don't care if I am showing my ignorance. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:52:54 PM 1255 Views
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For all the expressed interest, this book club discussion is languishing. *NM* Tom - 21/07/2010 02:07:23 AM 511 Views
I am trying to catch up. I've had NO time to read lately. nossy - 21/07/2010 02:58:23 AM 1087 Views
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I've nearly finished. Should be done tomorrow morning. *NM* Tim - 21/07/2010 11:22:05 PM 490 Views
Vacation and all the stuff associated with it. Will try to write something, but it might be a while. *NM* Vodalus - 23/07/2010 02:03:57 AM 510 Views
Give me a day or two to catch up on things and finish the book. *NM* Legolas - 24/07/2010 11:14:17 PM 491 Views
Names. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:16:23 PM 1032 Views
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I thought that was so. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:53:21 PM 1112 Views
It felt like two different books.One part I felt like I was wading through a meaningless fluff. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:45:52 PM 1010 Views
Hm Rebekah - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM 1064 Views
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